System and method for providing call information in real time

ABSTRACT

A telecommunications system and method are disclosed for providing information relating to a telephone call associated with an access point within a telecommunications system, such as a telephone line or telephone number, to a software application in substantial real time. The system and method include assigning a destination address to the telecommunications system access point about which telephone call information is desired, and sending an electronic message to the destination address in response to a telephone call being established utilizing the access point. The electronic message includes, among other things, information relating to the telephone call and the access point. Within the context of a telecommunications switch for controlling traffic associated with a plurality of telephone lines, when the switch receives a telephone message, such as a setup message or backward message, having a destination address therein, the switch sends an electronic message to the destination address upon receipt of the telephone message. The electronic message includes information identifying the telephone message, and the switch. In this way, information relating to the usage of a telecommunications access point may be provided in real time for billing or tracing purposes.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0001] 1. Technical Field of the Invention

[0002] The present invention relates to providing telephone callinformation, and particularly to a system and method for providinginformation relating to a telephone line or other access point in atelecommunications network in real time.

[0003] 2. Background of the Invention

[0004] Modern telecommunications systems are capable of providing awealth of information relating to the use of a telephone line. In somecircumstances, it is beneficial to obtain information relating to atelephone call utilizing a preselected telephone line during and/orimmediately following the telephone call. For example, businesses suchas hotels would benefit from being made aware of the usage of theirhotel room telephones in substantially real time so that hotel patronsmay be suitably billed. In addition, law enforcement or emergency 911service providers would benefit from having telephone call informationin substantially real time so that telephone calls can be accuratelytraced. As a result, there is a need for effectively providing telephoneinformation in substantially real time.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0005] The present invention satisfies a significant need for atelecommunications system and method for providing, in substantiallyreal time, telephone call information relating to preselected telephonelines. A preferred embodiment of the present invention is directed tosoftware and corresponding hardware within a telecommunications system.The software allows for a preselected telephone line or other accesspoint within the telecommunications system to be assigned a destinationaddress, such as an IP address or URL address. Thereafter, when atelephone call involves or otherwise utilizes the preselected telephoneline and/or access point, the switch automatically sends a message tothe assigned destination address. The message, an IP-based message, aURL message or other electronic message, includes information relatingto the telephone call, such as the CDR sequence number, the calledtelephone number or the calling telephone number, a time stamp relatingto the telephone call, or the switch. Additional messages may be sent tothe destination address upon the occurrence of events that change thestate of the telephone call, such as the telephone call terminating orbeing suspended.

[0006] One preferred embodiment of the present invention is within thecontext of a hotel or other business wherein telephone call informationrelating to at least one preselected telephone line is provided insubstantially real time in order for the business to be capable ofbilling a customer for a telephone call during or soon after the call.The embodiment may further include a computer to which the messages aredirected, and billing application software associated with the computer.The computer and billing application software are capable of receivingthe messages and generating billing information based upon the telephonecall associated with the messages. In this way, a business is capable ofmonitoring and generating billing information relating to use of apreselected telephone line in substantially real time.

[0007] A second preferred embodiment of the present invention isdirected towards providing a call tracing feature for atelecommunications system. Specifically, system software allows atelephone line or other access point to a telecommunications switch tobe assigned a destination address and, sends a message to the assigneddestination address in response to an outgoing telephone call beingplaced from the access point or an incoming telephone call beingreceived thereat. The message includes telephone call informationrelating to the telephone call, such as the called or calling telephonenumber, the CDR sequence number, and a time stamp relating to thetelephone call.

[0008] In addition, for an outgoing telephone call placed from theaccess point having the assigned destination address, the assigneddestination address is included in a setup message of the outgoingtelephone call, such as the initial address message (IAM) or SETUP.Then, for each additional switching device or other node through whichthe outgoing telephone call is routed, the system software sends amessage to the assigned destination address as the outgoing telephonecall setup message is routed or forwarded through the switching device.The message may include information identifying the outgoing telephonecall and the switching device or node through which the outgoingtelephone call is routed/forwarded. In this way, information relating toeach node or switching device is provided to the assigned destinationaddress in substantially real time.

[0009] For an incoming telephone call received at the access point towhich a destination address is assigned, the system software includesthe destination address in the first backward message of the incomingtelephone call. Then, for each additional switching device or other nodethrough which the incoming telephone call is routed or forwarded, amessage is sent to the assigned destination address as the backwardmessage is routed through the switching device. In this way, a lawenforcement agency or other entity may trace incoming and outgoingtelephone calls utilizing a preselected access point at each node withinthe telecommunications system in substantially real time.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0010] A more complete understanding of the system and method of thepresent invention may be obtained by reference to the following DetailedDescription when taken in conjunction with the accompanying Drawingswherein:

[0011]FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a telecommunications system accordingto a first preferred embodiment of the present invention;

[0012]FIG. 2 is a flow chart illustrating an operation of thetelecommunications system shown in FIG. 1;

[0013]FIG. 3 is a block diagram of a telecommunications system accordingto a second preferred embodiment of the present invention;

[0014]FIG. 4 is a flow chart illustrating an operation of thetelecommunications system shown in FIG. 3; and

[0015]FIG. 5 is a flow chart illustrating an operation of thetelecommunications system shown in FIG. 3

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENTS

[0016] The present invention will now be described more fullyhereinafter with reference to the accompanying drawings in which apreferred embodiment of the invention is shown. This invention may,however, be embodied in many different forms and should not be construedas being limited to the embodiment set forth herein. Rather, theembodiment is provided so that this disclosure will be thorough andcomplete, and will fully convey the scope of the invention to thoseskilled in the art.

[0017] Referring to FIGS. 1 and 3, there is shown a telecommunicationssystem of the present invention. The telecommunications system isadapted to provide telephone call information involving a telephone lineor other access point within a telecommunications system substantiallyduring the course of the telephone call. The telecommunications systemthereby allows for effectively billing for telephone usage and tracingtelephone calls relating to a preselected telephone line insubstantially real time.

[0018]FIG. 1 illustrates a telecommunications system 1 according to afirst preferred embodiment of the present invention. Telecommunicationssystem 1 includes a switching device 2 which controls traffic associatedwith a plurality of telephone lines, including telephone line 3.Switching device 2 may, for example, be an exchange, such as a PBX.Alternatively, telecommunications system 1 may be a portion of a mobilecellular telecommunications system in which switching device 2 is an MSCwhich controls wireless communication to a mobile telephone over theradio interface.

[0019] Telecommunications system 1 includes system software associatedwith switching device 2, such as software stored in memory 4 utilized byswitching device 2, which controls switching device 2 to providetelephone call information in substantially real time. First, the systemsoftware allows for a destination address to be selectively assigned toa preselected access point associated with switching device 2, such as aparticular telephone line 3 to which switching device 2 providestelecommunication services. The system software additionally causesswitching device 2 to send a message, such as an electronic message, tothe assigned destination address whenever a telephone call utilizes thepreselected access point 3. In this case, switching device 2 sends amessage to the assigned destination address whenever an incomingtelephone call is initially directed towards the preselected accesspoint 3 or an outgoing telephone call initially enters thetelecommunications system 1 over the preselected access point 3. It isunderstood, however, that switching device 2 may send a message onlywhen an outgoing telephone call initially enters the telecommunicationssystem 1 over the preselected access point 3. The message is transportedover network 5 from switching device 2 to the device associated with theassigned destination address.

[0020] It is understood that the transport of messages to thedestination address may utilize any of a number of technologies. Forinstance, message transport by switching device 2 may be IP-based,wherein the message is an IP-based message that is transported overIP-based network 5 to an IP address utilizing a TCP/IP protocol.Alternatively, message transport by switching device 2 may be URL-based,wherein a URL message is sent over a network 5 to a URL address. Thepreferred embodiments will be described below within the context ofIP-based message transport for exemplary purposes only.

[0021] The IP message generated and transmitted by switching device 2includes information relating to the telephone call that initiated thegeneration of the IP message. The information may include informationsuitable for sufficiently billing for telephone usage through accesspoint 3 or otherwise logging telephone call activity of access point 3.For instance, the IP message may include an identification of the calledparty and/or calling party, the CDR sequence number, or a time stampcorresponding to the establishment of the telephone call. In this way, abusiness entity, such as a business activity that charges a fee fortelephone usage through access point 3, is provided telephone usageinformation corresponding to access point 3 in substantially real time.

[0022] As stated above, system software of switching device 2 generatesand transmits an IP message to the assigned IP address upon theestablishment of a telephone call utilizing access point 3. In order toprovide telephone usage information relating to access point 3 so that auser of access point 3 is sufficiently and accurately charged fortelephone usage thereof, the system software of switching device 2preferably sends an additional IP message to the assigned IP addresswhenever an event occurs that may effect the billing for telephone usagethrough access point 3. The event may be any event that changes thestate of the telephone call, such as termination of the telephone call,suspension of the telephone call, or resumption of the telephone callfollowing suspension thereof. Consequently, a business entity or otherbilling service may receive information for sufficiently billing fortelephone usage corresponding to access point 3.

[0023] The first preferred embodiment of the present invention mayfurther include a computing device 6 having the assigned IP addresscorresponding thereto. Computing device 6 may, for instance, be acomputer on which billing information is generated for telephone serviceusage of access point 3. Computing device 6 preferably includes acomputer application 7 which extracts telephone call information from IPmessages received by computing device 6 and determines billinginformation corresponding to telephone usage through access point 3.

[0024] For each telephone call utilizing access point 3, computerapplication 7 extracts information from received IP messages relating tothe telephone call and computes, among other things, the duration of thetelephone call. Computer application 7 may also determine the type oftelephone call based upon the extracted information, in the event thetype of telephone call effects the billing therefor. The billinginformation may be presented, for example, as an itemized list oftelephone calls relating to access point 3. Each entry in the presentedlist of telephone calls may include the date, time and time duration ofthe telephone call, the charge for the telephone call and the telephonenumber of the other party that participated in the telephone call.

[0025] The operation of telecommunications system 1 according to thefirst preferred embodiment of the present invention will be describedwith reference to FIG. 2. At step 20, an IP address is assigned to apreselected access point 3 associated with switching device 2. In thiscase, the IP address is the IP address of computing device 6. Upondetection of the establishment of a telephone call that utilizes accesspoint 3 at step 21, information relating to the telephone call iscollected by switching device 2 at step 22. The telephone callinformation may include the CDR sequence number, the telephone numbersof both of the called party and the calling party, a time stamp of theestablishment of the telephone call, and the state of the telephone call(active, suspended, etc.). Next, the system software causes switchingdevice 2 to generate and send an IP message to the assigned IP addressat step 23. Upon detection of a change in the state of the telephonecall at step 24, steps 22 and 23 are repeated so as that updatedinformation relating to the telephone call is sent to the IP address.Upon detection of the termination of the telephone call at step 25,switching device 2 waits for the establishment of a next telephone callutilizing preselected access point 3. Once all of the IP messages forthe telephone call have been sent to computing device 6, computerapplication 7 extracts the telephone call information from the IPmessages for the telephone call, computes billing information for thetelephone call and organizes the billing information for the telephonecall and other telephone calls utilizing access point 3 for subsequentpresentation.

[0026] The present invention may also be directed towards providing acall tracing function for use by, for example, law enforcement personnelor emergency 911 service providers. In a second preferred embodiment ofthe present invention, telecommunications system 30 (FIG. 3) is adaptedto provide comprehensive information relating to a telephone call sothat the telephone call may be accurately traced throughouttelecommunications system 30 between the two or more partiesparticipating in the telephone call.

[0027] Telecommunications system 30 includes a plurality of switchingdevices 31 which control traffic associated with a plurality oftelephone lines, including telephone line 32. Switching devices 31 may,for example, be an exchange, such as a PBX. Alternatively,telecommunications system 30 may be a portion of a mobile cellulartelecommunications system in which switching device 31 is an MSC whichcontrols wireless communication to a mobile telephone over the radiointerface.

[0028] Telecommunications system 30 includes system software associatedwith switching devices 31, such as software stored in memory devices 33utilized by switching devices 31, which controls switching devices 31 toprovide telephone call tracing information in substantially real time.The system software allows for an IP address to be selectively assignedto a preselected access point 32 associated within a switching device31. Similar to the first preferred embodiment of the present inventiondescribed above, the system software additionally causes the switchingdevice 31A associated with the preselected access point 32 to send anIP-based message to the assigned IP address whenever a telephone callutilizes the preselected access point 32. In this case, switching device31A sends an IP message to the assigned IP address whenever an incomingtelephone call is initially directed towards the preselected accesspoint 32 or an outgoing telephone call initially enters thetelecommunications system 30 over the preselected access point 32. It isunderstood, however, that switching device 31A may send an IP messageonly when an outgoing telephone call initially enters thetelecommunications system 30 over the preselected access point 32. TheIP message is transported over IP network 34 from switching device 31Ato the device associated with the assigned IP address.

[0029] Like in the first preferred embodiment described above, the IPmessage generated and transmitted by switching device 31A includesinformation relating to the telephone call that initiated the generationof the IP message. The information may include information suitable forsufficiently logging telephone call activity of access point 32. Forinstance, the IP message may include an identification of the calledparty and/or calling party, the CDR sequence number, or a time stampcorresponding to the establishment of the telephone call. In this way,an entity is provided with telephone usage information corresponding toaccess point 32 in substantially real time.

[0030] In providing a telephone call tracing feature, it is beneficialto provide detailed information relating to a telephone call so that allof the participating parties to the telephone call may be mostaccurately identified.

[0031] Accordingly, the system software preferably also causes switchingdevice 31A, the switching device associated with preselected accesspoint 32, to place the assigned IP address in a telephone message ofeach telephone call involving access point 32. For an outgoing telephonecall from access point 32, switching device 31A places the IP address inan outgoing message, such as in the SETUP or IAM message. For anincoming telephone call to access point 32, switching device 31A placesthe IP address in the first backward message, such as the addresscomplete message (ACM) or the call progress message (CPG). In this way,for each telephone call involving access point 32, a telephone messageis sent from switching device 31A to other nodes in telecommunicationssystem 30 indicating that a call tracing feature is to be invoked tosend information relating to the telephone call to the IP address.

[0032] According to the second preferred embodiment of the presentinvention, system software is included in each memory device 33corresponding to other switching devices, node and/or exchanges 31 intelecommunications system 30. The system software causes each switchingdevice 31 through which a telephone call involving preselected accesspoint 32 to detect that a telephone message (outgoing message orbackward message) includes an IP address and to send in responsetelephone call tracing information to the assigned IP address when thetelephone call is passed through the switching device 31. The telephonecall information may include an identification of the particularswitching device 31, a time stamp of the time the telephone call passesthrough switching device 31, and an identification of the telephone call(CDR sequence number). With each switching device 31 sending an IPmessage to the IP address having information relating to the telephonecall, a telephone call may be substantially accurately monitored withintelecommunications system 30.

[0033] The system software within memory devices 33 of each switchingdevice or node 31 also causes telephone call tracing information to begenerated in the event a telephone call involving preselected accesspoint 32 is forwarded to another location within telecommunicationssystem 30. Specifically, if a telephone call involving preselectedaccess point 32 is forwarded to a new location, the assigned IP messageis included in a message (outgoing forward or backward) directed towardsthe new location. Each switching device 31 handling the forwardedtelephone call, including the switching device 31 associated with thenew location, is caused to detect the IP message in the message and tosend an IP message to the IP address having telephone call tracinginformation therein. This allows a telephone call involving preselectedaccess point 32 to be accurately traced in the event the telephone callis forwarded.

[0034] Telecommunications system 30 may further include a computingdevice 35 having the assigned IP address corresponding thereto.Computing device 35 may, for instance, be a computer on which isprovided the status of a telephone call involving preselected accesspoint 32. Computing device 35 preferably includes a computer application36 which extracts telephone call information from IP messages receivedby computing device 35 and presents information relating to telephoneusage through access point 32 in substantially real time. Thepresentation of telephone call tracing information may be in virtuallyany suitable format for monitoring call tracing information.

[0035] The operation of telecommunications system 30 according to asecond preferred embodiment of the present invention will be describedwith reference to FIG. 4 in handling an outgoing telephone calloriginating from access point 32. Initially, an IP address is assignedat step 40 to an access point 32 within telecommunications system 30from which telephone calls are to be traced. If an outgoing telephonecall involving access point 32 is detected at step 41, an IP message issent to the IP address at step 42 from switching device 31A havingtelephone call tracing information therein. Switching device 31 includesthe assigned IP address in a forward or outgoing message at step 43.

[0036] Next, as the telephone call message (having the IP addresstherein) is routed through switching devices 31 en route to its intendeddestination, each switching device 31 handling the telephone callmessage detects the IP address in the telephone message at step 44, andsends an IP message at step 45 to the assigned IP address in responsethereto. Steps 44 and 45 are performed by each switching device 31routing the telephone call message, until the telephone call messagereaches the intended destination.

[0037] In the event the telephone call is forwarded, the forwardingswitching device 31 includes the assigned IP address in thecorresponding forward/backward message at step 46. Steps 44 and 45 areperformed by each forwarding switching device 31 until the forwardedtelephone call message reaches the intended destination.

[0038] The operation of telecommunications system 30 according to asecond preferred embodiment of the present invention will be describedwith reference to FIG. 4 in handling an incoming telephone call destinedfor access point 32. Initially, an IP address is assigned at step 50 toan access point 32 within telecommunications system 30 from whichtelephone calls are to be traced. If an incoming telephone callinvolving access point 32 is detected at step 51, an IP message is sentto the IP address at step 52 from switching device 31A having telephonecall tracing information therein. Switching device 31 includes theassigned IP address in the first backward message at step 53.

[0039] Next, as the telephone call backward message (having the IPaddress therein) is routed through switching devices 31 en route to itsintended destination from where the telephone call originated (theorigination node), each switching device 31 handling the telephone callmessage detects the IP address in the telephone message at step 54, andsends an IP message at step 55 to the assigned IP address in responsethereto. Steps 54 and 55 are performed by each switching device 31routing the telephone call message, until the telephone call messagereaches the intended destination where the telephone call originated(the origination node).

[0040] In the event the telephone call is forwarded, the forwardingswitching device 31 includes the assigned IP address in thecorresponding forward/backward message at step 56. Steps 54 and 55 areperformed by each forwarding switching device 31 until the forwardedtelephone call message reaches the intended destination.

[0041] It is understood that the preferred embodiments of the presentinvention are capable of providing telephone call information relatingto a number of access points within a telecommunications system. Thepreferred embodiments are described above as providing telephone callinformation relating to a single access point for exemplary purposesonly.

[0042] The invention being thus described, it will be obvious that thesame may be varied in many ways. Such variations are not to be regardedas a departure from the spirit and scope of the invention, and all suchmodifications as would be obvious to one skilled in the art are intendedto be included within the scope of the following claims.

What is claimed is:
 1. A method of providing telephone call information,comprising the steps of: assigning a destination address to atelecommunications point in a telecommunications network; upon atelephone call being established utilizing the telecommunications point,sending a first electronic message to the destination address assignedto the telecommunications point, the first electronic message havingtelephone call information of the established telephone call.
 2. Themethod of claim 1, wherein: the telephone call information includes theCDR sequence number of the telephone call.
 3. The method of claim 1,wherein: the telephone call information includes at least one of thecalled telephone number and the calling telephone number.
 4. The methodof claim 1, wherein: the telephone call information includes a timestamp corresponding to the establishment of the telephone call.
 5. Themethod of claim 1, further comprising the step of: in response to achange in the status of the telephone call, sending a second electronicmessage regarding the change to the destination address assigned to thetelecommunications point.
 6. The method of claim 5, wherein: the changein status of the telephone call comprises a termination of the telephonecall.
 7. The method of claim 5, wherein: the change in status of thetelephone call comprises the suspension of the telephone call.
 8. Themethod of claim 1, wherein: the telecommunications point comprises atelephone line.
 9. The method of claim 1, further comprising the stepof: generating billing information based upon the telephone callinformation in the first electronic message.
 10. The method of claim 1,further comprising the step of: establishing an outgoing telephone callfrom a telephone associated with the telecommunications point; andincluding the destination address in an outgoing message of the outgoingtelephone call.
 11. The method of claim 10, further comprising the stepof: for each node in the telecommunications network the outgoingtelephone call passes through, sending an electronic message from thenode to the destination address assigned to the telecommunications pointas the outgoing message is passed through the node, the electronicmessage including information relating to the telephone call and thenode.
 12. The method of claim 1, further comprising the steps of:receiving an incoming telephone call to a telephone associated with thetelecommunications point; and sending a backward message in response toreceiving an incoming telephone call, the backward message including thedestination address assigned to the telecommunications point.
 13. Themethod of claim 12, further comprising the step of: for each node thebackward message passes through, sending an electronic message from thenode to the destination address assigned to the telecommunications pointas the backward message is passed through the node, the electronicmessage including information relating to the telephone call and thenode.
 14. The method of claim 1, further comprising the steps of:receiving an incoming telephone call to a telephone associated with thetelecommunications point; and for each node in the telecommunicationsnetwork the incoming telephone call is subsequently forwarded through,sending an electronic message from the node to the destination addressassigned to the telecommunications point as the incoming telephone callis forwarded through the node, the electronic message includinginformation relating to the telephone call and the node.
 15. Atelecommunications switch for controlling traffic associated with aplurality of telephone lines, the telecommunications switch comprising:a means for assigning a destination address to an access point in thetelecommunications switch; and a means for sending a first electronicmessage to the destination address assigned to the access pointresponsive to a first telephone call being established utilizing theaccess point, the first electronic message having telephone callinformation of the first telephone call.
 16. The telecommunicationsswitch of claim 15, wherein: the telephone call information in theelectronic message includes the CDR sequence number of the firsttelephone call.
 17. The telecommunications switch of claim 15, wherein:the telephone call information in the electronic message includes atleast one of the called telephone number and the calling telephonenumber of the first telephone call.
 18. The telecommunications switch ofclaim 15, wherein: the telephone call information in the electronicmessage includes a time stamp corresponding to the establishment of thefirst telephone call.
 19. The telecommunications switch of claim 15,further comprising: a means for sending a second electronic message tothe destination address assigned to the access point in response to achange occurring in the status of the first telephone call.
 20. Thetelecommunications switch of claim 19, wherein: the change occurring inthe status of the first telephone call comprises the first telephonecall terminating.
 21. The telecommunications switch of claim 19,wherein: the change occurring in the status of the first telephone callcomprises the first telephone call being suspended.
 22. Thetelecommunications switch of claim 15, further comprising: a means forincluding the destination address in an outgoing message of the firsttelephone call.
 23. The telecommunications switch of claim 15, furthercomprising: a means for receiving a second telephone call towards anintended destination thereof, the second telephone call including asecond destination address in the setup thereof, and for sending asecond electronic message to the second destination address responsiveto the receiving of the second telephone call, the second electronicmessage including information relating to the second telephone call andthe telecommunications switch.
 24. The telecommunications switch ofclaim 15, further comprising: a means for including the firstdestination address in a backward message of the first telephone call.25. The telecommunications switch of claim 15, further comprising: ameans for receiving a backward message of a second telephone call, thesecond telephone call including a second destination address therein,and for sending a second electronic message to the second destinationaddress responsive to receiving the backward message of the secondtelephone call, the second electronic message including informationrelating to the second telephone call and the switch.
 26. Thetelecommunications switch of claim 25, further comprising: a means forrouting the backward message towards an intended destination thereof.27. A telecommunications system, comprising: a switch for controllingtraffic associated with a plurality of telephone lines, the switchcomprising: a means for receiving a message of a first telephone call,the message including a first destination address therein; and a meansfor sending a first electronic message to the first destination addressresponsive to receiving the message of the first telephone call, thefirst electronic message including information relating to the firsttelephone call and the switch.
 28. The telecommunications system ofclaim 27, wherein: the message of the first telephone call comprises asetup message thereof.
 29. The telecommunications system of claim 27,wherein: the message of the first telephone call comprises a backwardmessage thereof.
 30. The telecommunications system of claim 27, whereinthe switch further comprises: a means for assigning a second destinationaddress to an access point of the switch; and sending a secondelectronic message to the second destination address in response to asecond telephone call utilizing the access point, the second electronicmessage including information relating to the second telephone call. 31.The telecommunications system of claim 30, wherein: the secondelectronic message includes a time stamp associated with theestablishment of the second telephone call.
 32. The telecommunicationssystem of claim 30, wherein: the second electronic message includes theCDR sequence number of the second telephone call.
 33. Thetelecommunications system of claim 30, wherein: the second electronicmessage includes information relating to the switch.
 34. Thetelecommunications system of claim 30, wherein the switch furthercomprises: a means for including the second destination address in abackward message of the second telephone call.
 35. Thetelecommunications system of claim 30, wherein: the second telephonecall comprises an outgoing telephone call; and the switch furthercomprises a means for including the second destination address in thesetup message of the second telephone call.
 36. The telecommunicationssystem of claim 30, further comprising: a computer for receiving thesecond electronic message, the computer including software applicationprogram code for extracting the information relating to the firsttelephone call and presenting the information to a user of the softwareapplication associated with the software application program code. 37.The telecommunications system of claim 27, wherein: the informationincludes time stamp information relating to the reception of the messageof the first telephone call and the switch.
 38. The telecommunicationssystem of claim 27, wherein: the destination address is an IP address;and the first electronic message is an IP-based message.
 39. Thetelecommunications system of claim 27, wherein: the destination addressis a URL address; and the first electronic message is an URL-basedmessage.